Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Security Minister Mohammed Dahlan and Israeli Defense Ministers haul Mofaz agreed on Friday night to transfer security control of four West Bank cities.

Elias Zananeeri, Dahlan's representative, said the four cities are Qalqilyah, Jericho, Ramallah and Tulkarm.

Dahlan and Mofaz met twice in Israel within 24 hours, while Israelis described the two meetings as "positive," Zananeeri said. He disclosed that the Israeli army would first withdraw fromQalqilyah and Jericho and hand over security to the Palestinian security forces within the coming week.

Then the pullout from Tulkarm and Ramallah would take place within two weeks, he said, adding the Israeli and Palestinian security officials will meet on Sunday to fix on the practical steps for the Israeli army withdrawal from the four West Bank cities.

The Palestinian side concentrated on the importance of removing roadblocks and ending the siege imposed on the Palestinian cities and allow free movement of the Palestinians in the meeting, Zananeeri said.

According to Israel Radio, conveying the security control to the Palestinian security forces in both Ramallah and Tulkarm will take place only if there is no more attack against Israel.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2003)